Coach and Bus Live 2009

Two days in Birminhgam this week as it early October and so therefore the industry's annual showcase at NEC.

This is the small show - the large ones are in even years - but there were a good number of full size vehicles on show - Volvo, Wrights, ADL, MCV, Optare, MAN were all there with buses and coaches. Surrounding them were of course numerous stands from suppliers of products ranging from bus washes to GPS devices. Our own First Rail Support was there of course and I can't resist a photo of them.Well done team for staffing the stand and all you did.

The show is of course a huge opportunity for networking and there is the chance to do deals on every corner. On Wednesday night it was the annual RouteONE Operator Excellence Awards dinner which was packed to overflowing. My special congratulations to long-standing friends EnsignBus who won Small Operator of the Year and to Phil Margrave of Go-Ahead who is Bus Engineer of the Year.

Networking carried on until the early hours and there were a few late on parade this morning (not me I should add!).

A lack of orders is really the main story for the manufacturers and they all have their fingers crossed for 2010. Despite this they have made considerable progress - more developed hybrid products were in evidence even though there is as yet hardly any being produced other than for London trials.

Photos show the FRS team prepared for action plus also our vehicle on the Volvo stand with Steve Dewhurst MD Bus for Volvo, me and Mark Nodder Chief Executive Wrightbus.